As I've started swimming a bit more and started taking things a bit more seriously I've had long and involved conversations with my wife about waxing my entire body to swim faster.

I've grown beards in the past and kept them for months. I've found that when you shave off a beard there is this really weird feeling that you are back to a time pre-puberty when my voice was high and my skin was smooth. Total hair removal in the aid of hydrodynamics would make this feeling truly uncomfortable and taking feminisation of the male ego too far. Sorry Stupe - I'm not even going to shave my legs

So what to do....

The answer is this. It's the top of the range X-terra speed suit. The idea of a speed suit is to give you a wonderful hydrodynamic shape in the water by compressing your body a bit like an old fashioned corset. It then has a super smooth surface that really reduces drag. Additionally there seems to be some clever stuff that increases buoyancy by your hips and thus makes it easier to keep you legs higher in the water - reducing drag still further.

 As far as I can see from a quick trawl of the net that is likely to reduce times by about 5-8%. What times is the question? Sprints or long distance? Pool or open water? All probably but almost certainly by different amounts. There is also likely to be differing effects for athletes of different ability. Notably Michael Phelps apparently wasn't even competitive against other swimmers wearing speed suits when he was in normal swim trunks.....

Assuming that it does have a 5% improvement I'd expect my Ironman swim times to improve by about 5 minutes - is it worth it? Well that depends on what you want to achieve

Usually retailing at $350 US (RM1200) X-TERRA now have them on sale at $119 (RM400) with another $45 for shipping to Malaysia. This combined with the Ironguides recommendation of the brand was a deal too good to miss.

X-TERRA's blurb on the suit is below. You can't buy on-line because their website  doesn't ship to Malaysia however Liz (Shehatesspam.liz@xterrawetsuits.com - remove the Shehatesspam) at X-TERRA is very efficient at getting it all processed and packed. You can call her on 01 858 565 9500 x 111.

Once it arrives I'll let you know how it all turns out.

"XTERRA WETSUITS' line-up is complete with our collection of speedsuits for triathlons and open water swimming. When a wetsuit is not legal, a speedsuit is your best option for speed in the water. Without a speedsuit, you are forced to swim with your tri gear or bathing suit, which creates drag and slows you down.

The Velocity++ is not a neoprene wetsuit, but a slick, extremely durable suit comprised of the fastest material and coating available on the market. The NANO-SCS coating, with a drag coefficient of 0.02 (the lowest available), is used continuously throughout the speedsuit. The Velocity++ is meant to fit snugly - especially at the chest, waist and hips - over tri gear. It takes about 5 minutes to put on and requires assistance zipping up. However, it will take less than 5 seconds to peel off with the flip-up zipper.

Important features:
• Full coverage from neck to ankles for maximum speed 
• No Lycra - because Lycra is drag
• Easy exit with flip-up zipper design (no leash needed)
• All frontal seams removed for less drag
• Compression-designed for better  body positioning
• Approved through by USAT (USA Triathlon)"

Comments (1)

I've been discussing my attitude to swimming recently with my coach. One of his suggestions on how to feel more comfortable with water is to head off a beach for 1/2 an hour in a straight line with paddles and pull buoy. Then turn round and come back.

Whoooaaa. Steady. That makes me really uncomfortable. What happens if there are sharks? (I get paranoia attacks in the swimming pool some times). More importanly what about the current; what if I can't swim back? What if I drown? Big issues here

But at the same time I'm happy enough to enter races where the swim course is at least 3 hours long. What is it about swimming solo in the ocean? The fear is irrational - but similar I suppose to running in the jungle in darkness at night. You feel very vulnerable. The world visible to your senses has collapsed and only encompasses a small sphere around you. An attack (from shark or branch) could be imminent and you'd never know.

What of the things I love about triathlon is the feeling of control I get from increased strength and endurance. Swimming by myself in a big ocean where I cannot see what is around me massively reduces that sense of control. I am small and weak and alone. How do I cope with it?

There are places and places to swim of course. A lot of it is experience and confidence. I'm quite happy jumping off a boat a mile or two offshore and swimming to land. I do it on most holidays. Equally so I have no real problems swimming out to an Island and back.

It is just the fear of swimming out in to the big blue. Small. Alone. Insignificant. Well I think I'll do some tests and see what it is like. Not a long distance at first - but shorter runs 5 in and 5 back, 10 out and 10 back to grw my experience of ocean swimming and see how it goes.

If nothing else I could always put Senay in a rubber dingy and pull that :)

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